In this bumper episode of the New Politics podcast, we analyse the first week of the federal election campaign, exploring the major developments, the political theatre, and the emerging narratives that will shape the campaign.
From growing tensions over Chinese research vessels and national security hysteria – it’s not a “they’re eating the dogs, the cats” moment but, instead, they’re going to steal our internet! – to Peter Dutton’s ill-advised commentary about living in Kirribilli House instead of The Lodge, this episode dissects how distraction politics and cultural dog-whistling are becoming central to the Liberal Party’s campaign strategy.
We analyse how media narratives are being manipulated to stir fears of espionage and asylum seeker threats, with Dutton reverting to Cold War-era rhetoric and conservative outrage tactics. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s response to these security concerns reveals the challenge of managing complex international relationships in the middle of a heated campaign.
We have an in-depth conversation with Ellie Smith, the Climate 200-backed community independent running against Dutton in Dickson, in what is shaping up to be a high-stakes three-way contest. As independents and minor parties continue to gain ground – with support for major parties falling below 70 per cent – this election could reshape the parliamentary crossbench and influence the direction of Australian politics for years to come.
The United States’ newly imposed 10 per cent tariffs on Australian imports will also have political ramifications during this campaign – the Albanese government is positioning it as a manageable outcome, whereas the opposition is trying to spin it into a failure of diplomatic relations. How this issue plays out will be crucial for Labor’s economic narrative.
We also tackle the familiar media trope: are you better off than you were three years ago? – a question often wielded to undermine first-term Labor governments. We unpack what this really means in the context of cost-of-living pressures, inflation, housing, and broader quality-of-life concerns. While not all economic issues have improved, wages are up, interest rates are steady, and targeted government rebates are having an impact – what matters now is whether the electorate is satisfied with the direction of this government, or if they are looking for a viable alternative.
On energy policy, the Coalition is pushing dubious claims about skyrocketing bills and promoting a national gas reserve plan that they failed to implement during their nine years in government. Meanwhile, their opposition to the “woke” education system and call to abolish the federal education department echo a brand of culture war politics more at home in MAGA America than modern Australia.
As opinion polls flood in, we assess what they reveal about voter sentiment. While Freshwater shows a narrow Coalition lead, the broader trend still shows a drift away from the Coalition. Sky News’ own vox pops – even from Melbourne – suggest support for Anthony Albanese remains solid, leaving questions about the Coalition’s ability to mount a credible campaign.Four weeks to go until election day! This episode provides the insight, analysis, and straight talk the mainstream media won’t.
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Song listing:
- ‘Good Stuff’, The B-52s.
- ‘Blue Monday’, New Order.
- ‘Connected’, Stereo MCs.
- ‘All Along the Watchtower’, Afterhere.
- ‘Humiliation’, The National.
Music interludes:
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The post The Week 1 Report and the campaign to get Dutton out of Dickson appeared first on New Politics.